Our Five Favourite Airports to Endure a Lengthy Layover

Quick: what’s the connection between the world’s tallest indoor slide, a Bavarian brewery, the Christkindl market, Korean Joseon theatre performances and an 18-hole golf course?! They’re all amenities in the world’s best airports for a layover, of course.

Changi International Airport, Singapore (SIN)

If you only have a few hours between flights, stroll through Changi’s 5 unique gardens, dip your feet into a fish spa, relax in a number of massage chairs, nerd-out at an XBox 360 station or zip down the world’s largest indoor slide (see video). Stuck on a longer layover? Enjoy a complimentary 2-hour city tour, try out the family-friendly swimming pool + swim-up bar or simply catch the latest blockbuster at the free movie theatre.

Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea (ICN)

Inside Incheon International. Courtesy of bestourism.com.

To start your Incheon layover, familiarize yourself with your host country at the Korean Cultural Center where you can watch a short play from the Joseon era, enjoy a Korean art gallery and taste any number of the authentic local cuisine. Not a culture-buff? Shuttle five-minutes off-site and enjoy an 18-hole golf course, driving range and free golfing lessons. Or, lace up and hit the in-terminal ice rink. Other perks include free movie theatres, shower facilities, massage chairs, and in typical Korean-fashion, massive shopping centres.

Munich International Airport, Germany (MUC)

Photo courtesy of Munich International Airport.

Long-haul made you thirsty? Not to worry if you’re touching down in Munich International! The airport features an in-house brewery with a wide selection of Bavarian flavours that’ll have you going pint for pint until boarding call. But Munich International didn’t make the list solely for its brewskies. It also features the annual Christkindl market (pictured), free coffee and tea stalls throughout, a miniature-golf course, a surfing simulator during summer months and an ice rink during winter months. Finally, you can even participate in an organized volleyball or arena polo tournament!

Taipei Taoyuan International is famed for it’s themed gates such as the Taiwanese Cuisine Waiting Lounge, Glamorous Textile Art Waiting Lounge, High-Tech Waiting Lounge and, wait for it, Hello Kitty Waiting Lounge! Not only are the gates visually distinct, but they each include a special “activity” such as calligraphy lessons at the Glamorous Textile Art Waiting Lounge. Beyond the 30 official themed lounges, you can also check out the free video game zones, noise-free library, a bamboo forest and a “kung foo massage” centre where local blind massage therapists are trained to tenderize and tantalize the travel weary.

Vancouver International Airport, Canada (YVR)

One view of the YVZ aquarium. Photo courtesy of Vancouver International Airport. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

We need to plug our home-town favourite, Vancouver International Airport. First, a “river” runs directly through the ocean-side hub with local salmon swimming right past duty free towards a massive in-terminal aquarium. Every variety of Canadian cod, conch and coral are on display. If fish aren’t your thing, you can enjoy local First Nations art installations reflecting YVR’s Land, Sea and Sky theme. One such installation is a series of totem poles in Chester Johnson Park, a green space featuring Canadian flora, a small pond and a beautiful waterfall. We don’t want to brag, but perhaps the best part about Vancouver International is the charismatic Canadian terminal staff. #yourewelcome